This is about Rabbi Simon ben Yohai, a contemporary of Rabbi Meir. Now, Rabbi Simon wasn't just any rabbi. He was a force of nature, a brilliant scholar, and, unfortunately for him, not a big fan of the Roman Empire. In fact, he spoke out against them. And in those days, that could get you in a lot of trouble.

According to Legends of the Jews, Rabbi Simon had to spend thirteen long years hiding in a cave to escape the Romans' wrath. Can you imagine? Thirteen years! But here's where it gets interesting. He wasn't alone. Elijah, yes that Elijah the Prophet, kept tabs on him. Think of Elijah as this ever-present, divinely appointed helper.

And one day, Elijah appeared to Rabbi Simon with some news: the emperor who wanted him dead was, well, dead. It was safe to come out. Talk about a dramatic exit!

But Elijah's involvement doesn't stop there. He wasn't just a messenger of good tidings for rabbis in hiding. He was also a champion of the poor, a helper to those in need.

Take the story of Rabbi Kahana. This poor soul was so destitute that he had to hawk household goods just to survive. Imagine, a rabbi reduced to such a state. And things got even worse. A woman of high social standing tried to force him into a compromising situation. Refusing to compromise his morals, Rabbi Kahana chose a drastic measure: he jumped from a loft.

Now, you might think that's the end of the story. Tragedy strikes, curtain falls. But remember Elijah? He wasn't about to let this righteous man fall. The story goes that even though Elijah was four hundred parasangs (an ancient unit of distance) away – that's a long way – he rushed to Rabbi Kahana's aid and caught him before he hit the ground.

But the help didn't end there. Elijah also provided Rabbi Kahana with enough money to give up his precarious and dangerous occupation. He went from struggling peddler to someone with the means to live with dignity.

What do these stories tell us? Maybe it's that even in the darkest of times, when we feel most alone and vulnerable, we're not truly forgotten. Maybe it’s that help can come from the most unexpected places, even from a prophet who lived centuries ago.

And perhaps, just perhaps, it’s a reminder to be like Elijah: to be aware of the suffering around us and to do what we can, in our own way, to offer a helping hand. Because who knows? Maybe, just maybe, we can be someone else's Elijah.